Ready to experience the rich cultural landscape of Arunachal Pradesh? Tawang Festival presents just the right opportunity. Celebrated in the last week of October, this street carnival is a festival that commemorates and upholds the traditions of the indigenous tribal communities residing in Tawang Valley. Art meets heritage at this festival which features folk music, vibrant dances, drama and street-style theatre, showcasing the beauty of the culture of the Monpa tribe. Tourists can find a lot to explore and a lot to learn by observing the ways of the people of Tawang at this cultural fiesta. Read ahead to know what to look forward to at the festival this year!
History & Heritage At The Forefront Of Tawang Festival
The Tawang Festival began not so long ago with its first edition being organised in 2012 by the Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Department. It is a tourism festival primarily meant to promote an influx of travellers in the region. It has been widely successful in this goal and hordes of tourists visit the valley each year to witness the cultural extravaganza on display in Tawang. The festival has gained great prominence in the region and has helped generate revenue for the public administrations as well as local residents. The festival is a place of great cultural exchange between the Monpas and Sherdukpens of Tawang and the visitors come from all over the country & even abroad. Special arrangements are made for tourists as one of the standing principles of the festival is the belief in cultural unity & diversity. The age-old traditions, the rich cultural tapestry, the folktales & legends, beliefs & lifestyle are on display. In some of the previous editions of the festival famous singers like Monali Thakur and Bhutanese Alternative Rock Band Misty Terrace.
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Street Performances & Top Attractions
1. Sebang
Set up against the backdrop of the stunning hills of the Tawang Valley, the festival starts on the first day with a procession of monks in their traditional red monastic outfits. This tradition that marks the beginning of the festival is called “Sebang”. The monks journey from the Tawang Monastery to the main site of the festival, usually Tawang Market. Starting with prayers marks an auspicious beginning to the festival. Commoners also join in the parade in the company of endearing friends and loved ones. The colourful prayer flags and vibrant decorations infuse beauty and serenity in the atmosphere.
2. Yak Dance
The Tibetan Yak Dance performed in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim is a traditional Asian folk dance performed on festive occasions and it is one of the most exciting parts of the Tawang Festival celebration. The dancer dons a mask and a costume and impersonates a yak. The dancer then performs with a man mounted on his back representing Theopa Gali, the family who is believed to first have discovered the yak animal with the help of a magical bird.
This pantomime dance is a reverential tribute to the yak, a significant part of the daily life of the Monpa and other tribes of the mountains. They provide milk and meat but also hide, fur, and manure for land fertilization, thus aiding survival in an extremely harsh atmosphere. The locals do not believe in letting any parts of the gentle animal go to waste. The yak dance was also performed on India’s 68th Independence Day, where it won the first prize among all the states.
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3. Aji-Lhamu Dance
Theatre meets dancing in this brilliant performance which is called the Aji-Lhamu Dance, a prominent folk dance practised by the Monpa people of Arunachal Pradesh. Some believe that the storyline depicted in the dance is the Tibetan version of the Hindu epic Ramayana. The dance is full of tension & conflict as it depicts a battle between good and evil. Nyapa, a common fisherman, and Nyarok, his assistant, are two demons up to no good who kidnap Lhamu and Lham-angying, two fairies who descended to earth from the heavens. Jhalu, the king, comes to their rescue and saves them from the demons.
The drama thus has five characters played by actors all usually wearing the same costumes, who are believed to be the five fingers of the God-king Ling Gesar Gyepu. Local customs believe that the Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of the same Ling Gesar Gyepu. This exhilarating dance is performed at all major festivals including the Tawang Festival leaving the crowds awed & thrilled.
4. Snow Lion Dance
The snow lion is an integral part of the Tibetan culture. It is one of the four dignities in Tibetan Buddhism and one of the celestial beings in regional mythology. The snow lion is an emblem of Tibet with the white skin representing the snowy mountains and glaciers of Tibet. The lion is depicted with a turquoise mane. Two dancers don the snow lion costume for the dance, one filling in for the head & anterior body and one for the posterior.
The dance is also called Senggeh Garcham, Seng geh deriving from Sanskrit Sinha for lion, and Garcham meaning ‘dance’ in Tibetan. It may be performed as a secular dance, or as a ritual dance performed by the monks. The dance usually features a pair of lions dancing to a common rhythm, which requires great practice and synchronization among the four dancers. It is truly a feast for the eyes and one of the best parts of the Tawang festival.
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5. War Dance
A great display of passion and ferocity is the War Dance you will get to see at the Tawang Festival. Also known as Arpuchham or Arpo Cham, with Arpo meaning war or groom and Chham meaning dance, this traditional dance by the Monpas of Mon Tawang is performed in every village to drive away evil spirits from their surroundings, their locality, and to appease the angry supernatural forces.
War dances often reenact scenes of warfare along with all its gruesome details, the screams of fear and the cries of triumph, and decorated headgear and costumes. War dances were traditionally performed to emotionally and psychologically prepare the soldiers going to battle. Visit the Tawang festival of Arunachal Pradesh and witness this thrilling performance that is sure to give you goosebumps.
6. Food Stands
Image Credit: Ganesh Mohan T for Wikimedia Commons
Savour the mouth-watering cuisine of Arunachal Pradesh and sumptuous hot bowls of soupy deliciousness with its roots in Tibetan culture. The festival grounds feature an array of food stalls and kiosks where tourists to the Tawang Festival can indulge themselves in delectable dishes such as Thukpas (a hearty noodle soup with minced meat), Zan, Dheb-Thukpa, Gyapa Khazi, momos, Churpi, and yak butter. The food says a lot about its people, their beliefs, traditions and the natural surroundings they live in. It marks identity as well as a people’s history.
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7. Musical Performances
Music is a language unto itself. It can connect people even when they don’t share a language. The same happens at the Tawang Festival. Visitors and tourists from all corners of the world have testified to being moved by the folk music of Tawang Valley. The mountains echo with notes of happiness and hope as Indigenous artists give voice to their pride & love of their cultural heritage. From local folk songs to western rock & RnB music as well as mainstream Bollywood, you will every taste & flavour of earwormy music here. The Tawang festival vibrates with an ancient chant as the Monpa celebrate their ancestral heritage.
Tawang Monastery
Image Credit: Trideep Dutta Photography for Wikimedia Commons
Tawang Monastery is famous for its grandeur and majestic architecture. One of the best tourist destinations in Arunachal Pradesh, not just the Tawang Valley, the monastery is the largest Buddhist monastery in the entire country. In Tibetan, the monastery is known as Tawang Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, which means “the divine paradise of complete victory”. The awe-inspiring three-storied structure of the monastery is enclosed by a 282-meter tall compound wall.
The monastery complex houses not just the monastery but also residential buildings for the monks, libraries of great heritage value containing ancient texts, a primary school, and a centre for Buddhist cultural studies. The central chamber of the monastery houses a gilded & decorated 18-foot-tall statue of the Buddha. The main temple has been exquisitely decorated with paintings, murals, carvings, and sculptures, which are sure to make your experience an educational and memorable one.
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Tawang Festival 2024 Dates
As the fall season comes to an end, thousands of visitors are awaiting the announcement of the Tawang Monastery Festival schedule. In 2023, the festival returned after a hiatus of three years and was held in the first week of November. Ever since it began in 2012, the festival has been held in either the last week of October or early November. The weather in North-east India starts to cool down at this time of year, and therefore travellers are advised to pack warmer clothes. Make sure to carefully check the dates and the schedule of all events, including the musical performances by special guests, on the Tawang Festival Instagram page or their website to take full advantage of all that the festival has to offer.
Where To Stay in Tawang
There are many good hotels and resorts in and around Tawang Valley where you can stay comfortably during your visit to the Tawang Festival in Arunachal Pradesh. Some of them are Hotel Mountain Mist Resort, Timilo Boutique, Dondrub Homestay & Resort, Vivanta Arunachal Pradesh, Hotel Monyul Tawang, and Hotel Tawang Heights. Most of them are located close to Tawang Market where the festival is held and you can visit all the attractions in the valley easily while staying at a cosy and comfortable bed & breakfast.
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How To Reach Tawang Valley
By Air: The nearest airport to Tawang is in Tezpur, approximately 320 km away. From Tezpur Airport, travellers can opt for a road journey to Tawang Arunachal Pradesh. The journey can take 10-12 hours, and it can change based on the weather and the state of the roads. It’s a good idea to book your flight to Tezpur early and plan your road trip from there.
By Rail: Tawang doesn’t have a train station. The nearest one is again in Tezpur. From there, you can hire a car or get a taxi to Tawang.
By Road: From Tezpur, there are regular buses and taxis to Tawang Arunachal Pradesh. The drive from Tezpur to Tawang is beautiful but can be long and tough because of the mountains. It’s suggested to hire a private car or take a bus from Tezpur for a comfy trip.
You May Also Like To Read: Places To Visit In Tawang
All set to begin on your journey to the Tawang Arunachal Pradesh? Make sure you visit during October to experience the Tawang festival and the beauty, culture, and hospitality the city has to offer. Plan your trip to Tawang and pay a visit to the majestic monastery and the lakes and mountains in Tawang Valley.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tawang Festival
Which is the famous festival of Tawang?
Tawang celebrates many festivals, the biggest of which are the Tawang Festival - a 3-day tourism extravaganza & cultural melee, the Losar Festival - a traditional New Year festival, and Torgya Festival - a monastic festival held in Tawang Monastery.
What is special about Tawang?
Tawang is a picturesque hill town in Arunachal Pradesh and is primarily known for its natural beauty, grand Buddhist monasteries, and rich cultural heritage. With sleepy villages, rolling hills, and historic Gompas and monasteries, Tawang is a perfect offbeat destination.
Why is Tawang Monastery famous?
Tawang Monastery is famous for several reasons. The largest monastery in India, it is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries outside of Lhasa in Tibet. With large prayer halls, beautifully painted walls, and meditation rooms, the intricate architecture of the structure leaves visitors awestruck. The monastery’s collection of ancient as well as contemporary Buddhist texts is one that makes it one of the primary centres for Buddhist studies and learning.
What is Tawang's traditional food?
Tawang has a lot of delicious food to offer, much of which owes its heritage to Tibetan food. One must definitely try a meal consisting of Zan (a flatbread), Gyapa Khazi (rice cooked with fermented cheese and fish), Thukpa (meaty & soupy noodles), and momos.
What is the best time to visit Tawang?
The best time to visit Tawang is during the spring & autumn months. Visit between March to June and September to November. The weather is very pleasant at this time as the temperature remains between 10 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius which is perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing. The Tawang Festival, a cultural extravaganza, is also held in October and is one of the most popular times to see Tawang in its full regalia.
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Abhay Kumar is a graduate of English Literature. Writing is both his hobby and his passion. He writes academic research articles as well as poetry and short fiction. He loves reading science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and translated fiction. He also loves traveling and writing about himself in the third person.
